TNF and atherosclerosis: In the first place, a key role is probably played by an inflammation-associated premature atherosclerosis: at this regard, Libby [6] underlined the important influence of inflammation in the development of vascular atheroma: pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) or TNF- α, induce the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) which promotes an early adhesion of mononuclear leukocytes (namely monocytes and T-lymphocytes) to arterial endothelium at sites of atheroma initiation.